Finding a seasonal job in Boston won’t be easy for college students this winter break, according to Experience, Inc.’s 2008 Holiday Jobs Survey. While school is out, many undergraduates take the opportunity to earn a little extra money to help pay for their education, but competition for work is high this season.

The study found that four out of five college students, along with those who have already graduated will be looking for seasonal jobs in Boston and throughout the country this holiday. The problem is that, with unemployment up, young adults are now having to compete with more experienced members of the workforce in order to find a job.

Of those who participated in the survey, 79 percent said that they were looking for a seasonal job for the upcoming holidays, but only 22 percent reported that they had already found work. Out of the students who had yet to be hired, 53 percent admitted that they believed that it was unlikely that will be hired while school is out.

Last year Experience’s survey reported that 47 percent of job seekers had already found work by early November. What that means for 2008, is that there has been a 25 percent decline in the number of young adults who known where they will be working for the holidays.

Understanding the economy, many students tried to increase there chances of finding seasonal jobs in Boston this winter. A total of 60 percent of participants reported that they began their job search before November this year, while only 20 percent did so in 2007.

The number of students who are looking for full-time work over the holiday break also rose. This year 45 percent hope to find a position where they can put in at least 40 hours a week. In addition to this, undergraduates are also extending the amount of their break that they are willing to work in order to be more marketable. Almost half (47 percent) of participants said that they would be willing to work for more than five weeks. This figure has more than doubled since 2007.

“Given the economic climate, candidates seeking extra income this holiday season need to be aggressive in searching for opportunities and identify themselves as ambitious, hardworking and resourceful,” said Experience, Inc.‘s founder and CEO Jennifer Floren. “College and grad students may also find that the winter break is the ideal time to set up job shadow opportunities and make networking connections, both of which will pay off down the road.”

The survey found that 22 percent of students believe they will find work through their university’s career center, 23 percent felt they would get a job through word-of-mouth and 21 percent hope that work can be located through an online job board.

The most desirable seasonal jobs were in retail, where 24 percent of students wanted to work. Another 23 percent reported that they hoped to find a new internship of the holidays. Around 18 percent wanted to work in a hotel a restaurant and 13 percent expect to find employment at a vacation destination.